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A few notes from Monday's Red Wings media availability following the team photo and locker room cleanout:

• Tomas Holmstrom revealed that his left knee was bothering him throughout the playoffs, requiring pain-killing shots. He said a variety of injuries (hernia, back, knee) took their toll on this season. No surgery needed this summer, just rest, he said.

"It's been a mess ... there was always something going on,'' Holmstrom said. "For sure it was really frustrating. You try to do your best. What can you do?''

Holmstrom failed to score a goal in the last 19 playoff games.

• Marian Hossa said he still hopes to get a long-term contract with the Wings.

"Detroit is at the top of my list for sure,'' Hossa said. "We'll see what's going to happen with today's economy, with the salary cap and everything. You never know what can happen.''

"I enjoyed it here,'' Conklin said. "I was able to play a decent amount. I enjoyed the locker room. It's a hard locker room not to like, lot of good people here.''

If the Wings re-sign Conklin to be Chris Osgood's backup again next season, they would need to trade Jimmy Howard, who is out of minor-league options.

• Restricted free agent forward Ville Leino said he expects to get a deal done with the Wings but said he is done playing in Grand Rapids and would want to be assured he will have a roster spot with the team.

"I don't want to play in the AHL anymore, and I won't do that anymore,'' Leino said.

Coach Mike Babcock said that isn't an issue, that Leino will be with the team.

• Babcock indicated that forward Justin Abdelkader likely will spend another season in Grand Rapids.

• Defenseman Brian Rafalski revealed that in addition to the herniated disc he suffered between the first and second rounds, he also separated his shoulder in the Chicago series.

I want to learn more about the history of the NHL and the many changes that have occurred in its long history. I was wondering if anyone knows of any good books or any good websites that discuss this. Thanks.

Great news for the Red Wings from Joe Louis Arena today: Coach Mike Babcock said Pavel Datsyuk will play Saturday, when the Wings host the Penguins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals.

Babcock then backed up a bit and said that the Wings were planning on Datsyuk playing, leaving a slight possibility the star center might end up missing another game.

"Well, we’re planning he’s going to be in," Babock said, "but the second thing is, how he is going to play?"

Datsyuk hasn't played since Game 2 of the previous round against Chicago because of a sore foot.

To get him back would be huge, to say the least -- not just for his offensive skills but for his defense. Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin has killed the Wings in this series, and making him go against Datsyuk while Henrik Zetterberg takes on Sidney Crosby would be a tremendous asset.

Babcock just said that Datsyuk is a game-time decision. "We have an optional skate tomorrow morning and we'll see how he responds after that and after today. I have to talk to (trainer) Piet (Van Zant) and see how (Datsyuk) looks."

That said, Datsyuk was practicing hard today, doing drills for the first time in a long time. The practice lines were shuffled as though they were preparing for Pavel being back. It sure looks like Datsyuk will be back unless his body takes a step backwards after today's workout.

The Detroit Red Wings not only expect to have Pavel Datsyuk back for the Stanley Cup final, there�€™s a very good chance he will suit up Thursday night for Game 4.

Datsyuk has missed the first three games of the Stanley Cup final and the past six with a foot injury he sustained during the Western Conference final, but a source close to the Wings said if Datsyuk doesn�€™t play in Game 4, he�€™ll definitely go in Game 5.

The Wings take to the ice at 2 p.m. EST Wednesday and Datsyuk will practise with the team. He is expected to be evaluated after that practice and the morning skate Thursday before a final decision is made. There is no doubt he is very close to getting back into the lineup.

Having Datsyuk would be an obvious boon to the Red Wings and would almost certainly take some of the defensive responsibility away from Henrik Zetterberg, who has been closely checking Sidney Crosby in this series.

This is the 11th time in NHL history that the two Stanley Cup finalists have been paired for the following season's championship. Seven out of those 11 times, the team that won the first meeting also captured the second and there’s a familiar pattern that’s been followed which should prove to a positive for the Wings.

In all seven of those repeat performances, the reigning Cup champions won Game 1.

The three times that the defending champs were dethroned – in 1984, when Edmonton toppled the New York Islanders, in 1956, when Montreal downed Detroit and in 1933, when the New York Rangers defeated Toronto – the defending champions lost Game 1.